Zimbabwe announced Thursday it will introduce next month "bond notes" equivalent to the US dollar, sparking fears of a return to the hyperinflation that wrecked the economy several years ago.

Zimbabweans formed long queues outside banks on Thursday as a cash shortage prompted the government to announce plans to print a local version of the US dollar and limit withdrawals.

A TOTAL of 87 companies were liquidated in 2014 compared to 44 in the year ago period while companies under judicial management rose to 60 from 44, data obtained from the Master of High Court shows.

Zimbabwe is looking for advice from the African Development Bank (AfDB) on how to mortgage its vast mineral resources to raise money and shore up an economy that has slowed since the start of the year, the new finance minister said on Friday.